Greig McDonald is determined to enjoy a cup run at Stirling Albion — but admits that his side’s League One campaign remains his top priority this season.

Stirling Albion manager Greig McDonald is hoping for a good start at Elgin (Photo: SNS Group)

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The Binos kick-off their new season today (Saturday) with a trip to Elgin in the first round of the Petrofac Training Cup.

McDonald geared up for the season opener with a 2-0 defeat to Falkirk in the final of the Stirlingshire Cup on Tuesday — but the action begins for real at Borough Briggs tomorrow afternoon.

Stirling lost 2-1 to eventual winners Raith Rovers at this stage 12 months ago — when the competition was called the Ramsdens Cup — and McDonald is hoping his side can enjoy a longer run this time round.

However, the Binos boss is wary of the threat posed by the League Two side. He said: “We are really looking forward to the season starting. The league is our priority but we want to do well in the cup competitions. It’s going to be a difficult game because Elgin like to attack.

“We are set up that way too, so I would expect a few goals.

“I think Elgin will do well in League Two this season under Barry Wilson but we managed to win up there the last time and hopefully we can do the same again.”

Six players have arrived at Forthbank over the summer — goalkeeper Greg Paterson, defender Craig Wedderburn, midfielder Darren Lee Smith and attacking trio Lewis Coult, Steven Doris and Gordon Smith— and the majority are likely to be involved against Elgin.

McDonald, who is still hoping to add a left-sided player to his squad, has the option of including two trialists under competition rules.

Albion lost 2-0 to a full-strength Hibs team on Sunday and McDonald feels that game and the Falkirk fixture will stand his players in good stead.

He said: “That’s two Championship teams we have faced in the space of three days, so it was another valuable game for us and another chance for the players to get a run-out.

“There were six or seven guys sitting behind me in the stand who will come into contention for Saturday but I felt the players who came in did well.

“We gave a strong Falkirk team as good as we got for most of the first half but the goal hurt us and the second half was a bit of a non-event — we went sideways too often and lacked a killer instinct.”

Midfielder Darren Smith is a major doubt after suffering a hamstring strain in the Raydale Cup a fortnight ago, full-back Ross McGeachie is struggling with a foot injury and Ross Forsyth missed the club’s pre-season friendlies due to his honeymoon.

The two most recent meetings between Elgin and Stirling — at Forthbank in the closing months of last season — both ended in draws.

Nick Walsh will be the referee for tomorrow’s Petrofac Training Cup first-round tie. Admission is £10 for adults and £5 concessions.

Should Stirling win, they will find out their opponents for the second round on Tuesday, July 29.

The draw will take place at 3.30pm at the Petrofac Training Centre in Aberdeen.The second-round draw will be a split into north and south sections. Games are scheduled for August 19/20.

●Stirling Albion play Stenhousemuir in the first round of the 2014/15 Stirlingshire Cup at Ochilview this Tuesday, July 29, kick-off 7.30pm.

●This week’s Albion Lotto numbers are 5, 16, 20, 23. There are no jackpot winners so next week’s pot is £17,250. One player matched three numbers for £250. You can play online at www.safclotto.co.uk.